Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-05-06

chume, boys" put in Dilsey, the saloon
keeper.
"He ken bless the gal fur pu'servin' his
cussed bacon" exclaimed the fellow who
had proposed the "necktie party" a short
time before.
; who'll we appint to 90 down the gulch
to the mounting cabin an dl!var the
walkin' papers to the tricky dcvil?" asked
Big Dan.
"Eben Goodner!!" came the hearty, uni
versal vote, and zach man turned as he
uttered that name, md looked at n young
man, who, leaning against the side of the
saloon-door, had been a silent but atten-
tive listner to all that had been said.
Eben Goodner was Big Dams partner,
but by no means a TYPICAL miner. Eben
was a young man of six and twenty. of
medium height and weight, with dark hair
and eyes, and a thick mustache of the same
color shading a kind mouth.
He was quite handsome despite the stamp
of recent illness showing in face and figure.
Added to this, his clothes advertised the
fact of much wear and tear.
Eben Goodner was a sample of the un.
successful miner. Good and honest him
self, he had been the easy prey of those
individuals who are less scrupulous in
business or money matters.
He had drifted to Jim Ned Gulch in
hope!essness. Big Dan, plying his for
lorn, impoverished aspect, and liking the
"tenderfoot's make-up," had generously
taken him into partnership, sharing his
little cabin md claim with young Goodner,
whom he soon learned to love with oil a
rough fronticrsman's wealth of true affec-
ton. He had just brought his slender
foot" out of q lingering fever, during
which Big Dan had been q most devoted
nurse.
well, Eb, what say you, my boy?" asked
the young miners big partner. glancing at
Eben's pale face.
Il will go, pard. he returned.
N need ter caution that cap ter break
it sorter gentle-llke, fur tie gals sake, fur
I know he will. He's more like q female
crittcr than airy man in camp" and the big
fellow gazed pridefully at his protege,
after bestowing what, in his estimation,
WAS Il nlSn compliment.
Before anything further could be said or
done, there came a swift rush of light foot.
falls up TO the door of the Sleeping Tiger,
then a short pause, and Minola Rhodes,
the gamblers fair daughter, stood before
that body Of surprised men.
Her rapid breathing testified TINT she
had come quickly from the mountain cabin.
Her long, golden hair fell in ripping
streams over her round, shapely shoulders;
her violet eyes looked almost black With
some excitement She seemed laboring to
overcome; and the wild-rose flush on the
smooth oval cheeks came and went in
lovely play.
A thin, blue shawl was worn loosely
around her shoulders. AS soon as the girl
had regained her breath, she took from its
folds a bag filled with shining gold pieces
and placed it on the table before Big Dan.
Those rough miners gazed at the girl,
noting her action, but scarcely breathing.
Eben Goodner did not once remove his
fascinated gaze from the pure, sweet
countenance of Minola Rhodes.
After laying the bag on the table. her
peerless eyes wandered from face to face
of those rough men, as if in search ofsym-
pathy. They lighted up beautifully as they
encountered the dark eyes of Eben bent
upon her, and, for one moment, q
delicate crimson overspread the girls
lovely face; then she spoke. And
SO hushed and apparently breath
breathless was that crowd of miners gazing
upon the vision of girlish loneliness before
them, that, as Minola's clear, bird like
tones fell upon their ears, the tick-tick of
the little clock on the wall of the Sleeping
Tiger could be distinctly heard.
Gentlemen" she said, 81 have brought
back the gold that Philip Rhodes, my
father, won from you at this place. I did
not know until this morning by what
means he gained possession OF so much
gold. I learned it in the moments of his
wild delirium, from his own lips. Mrs.
Dilsey, who is now kindly keeping watch
By my fathers sick-bed, told me the object
of the meeting you are holding at this
saloon, SO 1 came to return your gold md
hope that act will be sufficient reparation,
when l tell you my poor father will never
wrong you again. He is now on his
death-bed; and, oh sirs! as you hope for
pardon some day yourselves from your
Heavenly Father, I entreat you to let my
father die in peace in his mountain cabin,
down the gulch."
More than one of those brawny men
brushed away a suspicious moisture from
his eye with his coarse hand as Minola
finished speaking. No one venturcd to
speak, at once. The girls eyes were filled
with tears she seemed struggling to keep
back. She did not stir. She was evidently
awaiting some reply.
Finally Big Dan, feeling that the honor
of replying devolyed upon him, as spokes-
man Of that meeting, after clearing his
throat of something that seemed inclined
to make his voice tremulous, said:
"NIiss Rhodes-ahem! No Teller in jim
Ned Gulch shall fetch q har O. yer dads
head. Ye jes resi- aisy on that pint. Big
Dams words as good as Colerador gold
any day, al I've spoke. Let ary Teller in
the gulch offer the ~leetlest violence toward
Mr.. Rhodes, an Ill invent an openin'
throurh his anatermy that the billiards.